Step-in snowboard binding

ABSTRACT

Step-in snowboard binding designed to hold a boot by its sides. The binding comprises at least one jaw secured to a driving arm intended to be driven by the boot. The jaw has a cam-shaped part collaborating with a locking element which can move in a guide in such a way that the jaw is locked for various positions of the jaw. The jaw is equipped with a return spring which tends to keep it in the open position, and the jaw and the locking element cooperate to keep the locking element away from its locking position when the jaw is raised. In this way, the jaw cannot be closed inadvertently and the locking element does not hamper the closure movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a step-in snowboard binding inparticular; a step-in snowboard binding designed to hold a boot by itssides.

[0002] A binding such as this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,266,the content of which is incorporated by reference. This binding allowsthe boot to be held firmly when there is snow or ice present on thebaseplate and when this snow or this ice melts and the boot tends todrop, the difference in height of the boot is automatically taken up bythe binding. Furthermore, the locking element provides a firm grip,without elastic play, and without the jaw having to be acted upon by apowerful spring in order to achieve this. What happens is that the jawis held pressed against the boot by the locking element, it beingpossible for this locking to be provided by appropriate shapes, withoutthere being the need to have a powerful spring acting on the lockingelement. A binding such as this avoids the drawbacks of the bindings ofthe prior art, such as the bindings described in U.S. Pat. No.4,973,073, the content of which is incorporated by reference, and patentU.S. Pat. No. 4,097,062, the content of which is incorporated byreference, the former not being able to be closed in the presence ofsnow on the baseplate, while the latter has no locking element.

[0003] Other sources disclose bindings with two lateral jaws. A bindingsuch as this is disclosed in document U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,524, thecontent of which is incorporated by reference, for a monoski. Thisbinding has no locking element. Another binding is disclosed in documentWO 96/26 774, the content of which is incorporated by reference. Thisbinding has no locking element capable of locking the jaws at differentlevels of closure.

[0004] In the binding according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,226, the contentof which is incorporated by reference, the jaw is urged by a returnspring which tends to close this jaw and the wedge-shaped lockingelement is also used as a means for holding the jaw in the openposition, the jaw pressing against the end of the locking element. Thislocking element is therefore constantly pressed against the cam of thejaw and, when the boot is being put into the binding, the jaw has firstof all to push back the locking element. In the open position, as thecam presses via a rounded portion against an (also rounded) portion ofthe end of the locking element, wear of the contacting surfaces islikely to cause the jaw to become locked in the open position.Furthermore, actuation of the release means in the absence of a boot hasthe effect of closing the jaw, the release of the release means havingthe effect of locking the jaw in the closed position. The jaw has thento be opened again by hand, one hand actuating the release means whilethe other hand lifts the jaw back up.

[0005] Therefore, what is needed is a step-in binding which overcomesthese drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The step-in binding is provided in which the jaw is equipped witha return spring tending to keep its jaw in its open position, and thejaw and the locking element comprise collaborating means for keeping thelocking element away from its locking position when the jaw is raisedand as long as the jaw has not at least approximately reached a positionlikely to be a position for retaining the boot. The jaw is therefore notheld in the open position by the locking element, but by its returnspring. It therefore does not carry any risk of being closedinadvertently. Furthermore, in its first phase of closure, before it hasat least approximately reached a position likely to be a boot-retainingposition, the locking element does not in any way impede the jaw-closingmovement.

[0007] The object of the invention is to produce a step-in snowboardbinding, in which the jaw, or jaws, are not impeded in their openposition by the locking element and do not carry the risk of beingclosed inadvertently when no boot is present.

[0008] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the lockingelement is in the form of a peg and the guide for this peg is directedat least approximately vertically.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the peg can rotate and is fittedwith at least one radial arm which rotates as one with the peg, resting,via its end, on a stop when the jaw is in the raised position, the jawbeing secured to an auxiliary cam retaining the radial arm in thispressing position, the shape of the cam-shaped part being such that itreleases the radial arm when the jaw is lowered, allowing the lockingpeg to move into the locking position.

[0010] The jaw is preferably mounted in a mount forming a roughlyvertical guide for a set of moving parts carrying said peg and the jawcomprises a means for deliberately raising this set of moving parts,actuation of which allows the jaw to be raised and the radial arm of thepeg to be returned to a position resting against the mount.

[0011] The binding is preferably equipped with two opposed jaws whichare kinematically connected so that the two jaws can be loweredsimultaneously so that one jaw cannot close without the other jawclosing also. Mechanical play is advantageously provided in thekinematic link between the jaws so as to take account of a slightlyoblique position of the boot as the result of snow or ice being presentunder the boot.

[0012] According to another embodiment, the cam-shaped part of the jawhas a lateral wall forming a stop for the locking element so as to keepit away from its locking position and a cutout forming a circumferentialstop, and the locking element consists of a finger which can move atleast approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the jaw and isin the shape of a wedge pressing against the circumferential stop as itenters said cutout after the jaw has rotated a certain amount. Like inthe first embodiment, the opposite retaining element advantageouslyconsists of a second jaw identical to the first and the two lockingfingers are kinematically linked. In this case too, mechanical play isadvantageously built into this kinematic link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The appended drawing depicts, by way of example, two embodimentsof the binding according to the invention.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of it similar to that of FIG. 1,without the baseplate and the caps which cover the jaw mounts.

[0016]FIG. 3 depicts one of the jaws in the open position and thelocking means inside the jaw mount.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a plan view from above of the binding without thebaseplate.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a side view in the direction of arrow V, FIG. 4.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a view of the elements depicted in FIG. 4 in directionVI, at the start of introduction of the boot.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a view in section on VII-VII of FIG. 4.

[0021]FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, the bindingbeing depicted in the position on the highest-lying boot with a wedge ofsnow under the boot.

[0022]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the jaws and of the lockingelements in the position depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0023]FIGS. 11 and 12 are views similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 in a positionon the boot in which the boot sits at its lowest level, when there is nosnow or ice on the baseplate or under the boot.

[0024]FIG. 13 is a perspective view in a position similar to theposition depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0025]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the second embodiment, with noboot.

[0026]FIG. 15 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14, without thebaseplate or the bearings of the jaws, or those of the locking-elementdrive devices.

[0027]FIG. 16 is a plan view from underneath of the parts depicted inFIG. 15.

[0028]FIG. 17 is a view in section on XVII-XVII of FIG. 16, in which theboot, depicted diagrammatically, is just in contact with the jaw-drivingarms.

[0029]FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 16, after the locking fingershave entered the cams.

[0030]FIG. 19 is a view in section on XIX-XIX of FIG. 18, in which theboot is depicted locked in a high position.

[0031]FIG. 20 is a plan view similar to FIGS. 16 and 18, after thelocking fingers have fully engaged in the cams of the jaws and when theboot is in its lowest position.

[0032]FIG. 21 is a view in section on XXI-XXI of FIG. 20.

[0033]FIG. 22 diagrammatically depicts a simplified alternative form ofthe first embodiment.

[0034]FIG. 23 diagrammatically depicts the kinematic link between thepegs in this alternative form.

[0035]FIG. 24 depicts the alternative form in position on a boot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(s)

[0036] In the form seen by the user, the binding depicted in FIG. 1comprises a baseplate 1 intended to be fixed to the snowboard, twoopposed jaws 2 and 3 mounted on the baseplate 1 and covered with a cap4, 5, respectively. The binding further comprises a release lever 6,actuation of which releases the jaws which then return to their openposition as depicted in FIG. 1. As the jaws are identical, this textwill merely describe the jaw 2 with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0037] The jaw 2 is in the form of a profiled flat part mounted in amount 7 consisting of a piece of metal pressed and folded to form atubular part with two lugs 7 a and 7 b by which the mount is fixed tothe baseplate 1. Jaw 2 is mounted so that it can rotate in the mount 7by means of a horizontal axle 8 and is equipped with a return spring 58which tends to return the jaw to its open position. The jaw 2 has adriving arm or pedal 9. Fixed to one of the sides of the jaw 2 is a cam10 approximately in the shape of a sector of an eccentric circleextending over 90°. This cam may of course be formed integrally with thejaw 2.

[0038] The mount 7 also constitutes a guide for a set of moving parts 11which, in their upper part, carry a peg 12, the axis of which isparallel to the axis of rotation of the jaw and which constitutes thejaw-locking element. This peg 12 is itself engaged, via its ends, in twoopposed grooves or slots 13 and 14 made in two opposed walls of themount 7. The peg 12 is equipped with a radial arm 15 which rotates asone with the peg 12. The actuating arm 9 is extended circumferentiallyby a cam-shaped part 9 a intended to collaborate with the peg 12 to lockthe jaw, as will be described later on. When the jaws are in the openposition as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the arm 15 presses, via its end,on a bearing surface 16 of the mount 7 and is kept in this position bythe cam 10. The set of moving parts 11, in its lower part, has a portion17 curved around the release lever 6 and this provides a mechanical linkbetween the set of moving parts 11 and the lever 6.

[0039] In its position of rest the lever 6 is oblique but has a shortsection which is horizontal passing through the part 17 of the set ofmoving parts as can be seen in FIG. 5. Beyond the part 17, the lever 6is extended by a transverse part 18 extending under the baseplate 1 torise back up on the other side of the opposite jaw 3 where its end isengaged horizontally in the part 17′ of the set of moving parts 11′ ofthe opposite jaw. The two sets of moving parts are thus mechanically andkinematically linked. Locking is therefore achieved simultaneously byboth jaws by the simultaneous downward movement of the locking pegs 12and 12′. The link between the part 17 of the set of moving parts and thelever 6 does, however, exhibit play 19, which is also present in thecorresponding part 17′ of the other jaw. This play, in the lockedon-boot position, makes it possible to take account of a slightlyoblique position of the sole of the boot relative to the baseplate,which position might be due to snow or ice being present on just oneside or present on both sides but in unequal amounts.

[0040] Mounted around the part 18 of the release lever is a torsionspring which tends to lower the release lever 6, that is to say to drivethe sets of moving parts 11 and 11′ downward. The way in which thebinding works will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 15. Ingeneral, elements of the opposite jaw 3 are denoted by the samereferences, accompanied by the symbol′.

[0041] FIGS. 5 to 7 depict the jaws still in the open position, that isto say the same position as the one depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 7 inparticular shows that the arm 15′ of the jaw 3 is in abutment againstits stop 16′ so that the pegs 12 and 12′ are held at the top end oftheir guide.

[0042] The boot 20, laterally equipped with two housings 21, 22, presseson the actuating arms 9 and 9′. It can be seen (FIG. 7) that in thisposition the pegs 12 and 12′ are still kept in their high position,their arm 15 to 15′ pressing against the stops 16 and 16′.

[0043] When the boot 20 exerts pressure on the driving arms 9 and 9′,this pressure causes the jaws to rotate (FIGS. 8 and 9). The rotation ofthe cams 10 and 10′ has the effect of allowing the arms 15 and 15′ toleave their stop, as can be seen in the case of the arm 15′ in FIG. 9.The pegs 12 and 12′ can thus drop, guided in the slots in the mount 7.It is first of all assumed that the downward movement of the boot islimited by snow under the baseplate of the binding or under the sole ofthe boot, this position being depicted in FIG. 8. The boot can thereforenot move down any further, but cannot move up either because the pegs 12and 12′ have engaged and jammed between the cams 9 a, 9 a′ and the outersides of the guide slots 13, 14, 13′, 14′. The boot is thus perfectlyheld in this position.

[0044] If the snow compacts or melts and the boot tends to movedownward, the shape of cams 9 a, 9 a′ and the shape of the slots thatguide the pegs 12 and 12′ is such that the pegs continue to dropdownward, until they again jam between the cams and the guide slots.

[0045] The lowest position is depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. In thisposition, the locking pegs 12 and 12′ have practically reached thebottom ends of the guide slots. It can also be seen that the releaselever 6 has gradually lowered as the boot has dropped down to finallyoccupy a very slightly oblique position.

[0046] If one of the jaws drops down less than the other because thereis snow on one side of the boot or the thickness of snow differs betweenthe two sides of the boot, one of the pegs 12 or 12′ will not drop downas much as the other peg. This is what can be seen in FIG. 12. Thisdifference in height is allowed by the aforementioned play 19 which canbe seen in FIG. 12. This play can of course be spread across the twosets of moving parts 11 and 11′.

[0047] To release the boot from the binding all that is required is forthe release lever to be pulled upward, which has the effect of drivingthe sets of moving parts 11 and 11′ and with them the locking pegs 12and 12′ upward. The jaws, released, rise up under the effect of theirreturn spring and the retaining arms 15 and 15′ for the sets of movingparts return, under the effect of their return spring, into abutmentagainst the mount.

[0048] The second embodiment will now be described with reference toFIGS. 14 to 21.

[0049] As can be seen in FIG. 14, this embodiment again includes abaseplate 30 carrying two opposed jaws 31 and 32 and mounted so that itcan pivot in a pair of bearings 33, 34 and 33′, 34′, respectively. Thejaws 31 and 32 are identical and therefore only the jaw 31 will bedescribed, with the aid of FIGS. 15 and 16.

[0050] The body of the jaw 31 is in the form of a cylinder 35 equippedwith a hub 36 for the passage of the jaw pivot axle. The. cylinder 35has a cam-shaped part consisting of a radial wall 37 projecting radiallyfrom the circumference of the cylinder 35. This wall 37 has a cutout 38,the lower side 39 of which extends practically radially relative to theaxis of the body 35 and thus forms a circumferential stop. Mountedaround the hub 36 is a return spring 59, one end of which is attached tothe hub 36 in a known way. The spring 58 tends to keep the jaw in itsopen position depicted in FIGS. 14 and 15. The upper end 53, 53′,respectively, of the radial wall 37, 37′ constitutes an arm for drivingthe jaw.

[0051] The jaw locking element consists of a finger 40 in the form of acut plate arranged parallel to the baseplate 30 and equipped with aposterior end in the form of a hook 41 by means of which the finger 40is secured to a drive bar 42. More specifically, the bar 42 rests on oneside against the hook 41 and on the other side against an arm 43 of thefinger 40.

[0052] The finger 40′ is equipped with a second arm 60 collaboratingwith the upwardly bent part of the drive bar 42, as will be describedlater.

[0053] The bar 42 has two ends bent at right angles and engagedrespectively in a drum 44, 44′. These drums are urged to rotate bysprings (not depicted) which tend to push the bar 42 toward the jaws,that is to say in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 15.

[0054] The fingers 40 and 40′ guided in the baseplate 1 and driven bythe bar 42 abut, via their ends, against the radial wall 37, 37′. Whenthe binding is open, the fingers 40 and 40′ are thus kept out of thecutouts 38 and 38′. The fingers 40, 40′, have a part 45, 45′, whichnarrows along its length thus forming a ramp 46, 46′. The end of thefingers 40, 40′ however, has a part 47, 47′ of constant width, thelength of the part 47 exceeding that of the part 47′ of the otherfinger. The end of the fingers 40, 40′ resting against the wall 37, 37′is beveled.

[0055] Like in the first embodiment, the locking fingers 40 and 40′ aretherefore kinematically linked by the bar 42, so as to synchronize thelocking of the two jaws, but in this case, one of the links (in thisinstance that of the finger 40′) has play 51, the arm 43′ being shorterthan the arm 43. This play 51 is occupied by a spring 57 (FIG. 18)keeping the bar 42 against the hook 41′.

[0056] The binding is also equipped with a release lever 52 so that thedrum 44′, and with it the bar 42, can be rotated.

[0057] The way in which this second embodiment works will now bedescribed with the aid of FIGS. 15 to 21.

[0058] With the binding in the open position, with the jaws up, when aboot 54 (FIG. 17) is introduced into the binding it comes into abutmentagainst the driving arms 53, 53′. In this position, the finger 40 iskept, without play, against the cam 37 by the operating bar 42 and thefinger 40′ is kept, without play, against the cam 37′ by the bar 42pressing on the auxiliary arm 60. As it moves downward, the boot drivesthe arms 53, 53′, and with them the jaws 31 and 32 in terms of rotation.After rotation through a certain angle, the fingers 40 and 40′ findthemselves facing the cutouts 38, 38′ and can advance under the thrustof the bar 42, as depicted in FIG. 18. The beveled ends of the fingers40 and 40′ prevent the fingers from advancing abruptly and thus preventthe jaws from closing sharply. The fingers 40, 40′ accompany therotation of the cams 37, 37′ rather than playing a part in driving thesecams.

[0059] The fingers 40 and 40′ enter the respective cutouts 38 and 38′either simultaneously or with a slight time lag between them as a resultof an oblique position of the boot. The straight part 47 is longer thanthe corresponding part 47′ because the movement of the finger 40 isassociated with the movement of the bar 42, whereas the finger 40′ ispushed by the spring 57 as soon as it has left the lateral face of thecam 37′. The straight parts 47 and 47′ are a guarantee, by engaging inthe cutouts 38 and 38′, that the fingers 40 and 40′ are properly engagedbefore the intervention of the ramps 46 and 46′. They thereforeconstitute a safety feature.

[0060] If the boot moves down, the position becomes laterally oblique,such that the jaw 31 moves down first, the finger 40 is pushed forwardby the bar 42, but the bar 42 moves away from the auxiliary arm 60 ofthe arm 40′ and the movement of the transverse part of the bar 42 isabsorbed by the spring 57. The finger 40′ then compensates the arm 40under the thrust of the spring 57.

[0061] If the jaw 32 moves down first, the finger 40′ moves forward,also under the thrust of the spring 57, whereas the bar 42, retained bythe finger 40, remains immobile.

[0062] The position depicted in FIGS. 18 and 19 is the uppermostposition of the boot above the baseplate in which the jaws 31 and 32 canbe locked. The cams 37 and 37′ are at the bottom of the ramps 46 and46′.

[0063] If the boot can move down further, the jaws may continue theirrotation in the closure direction. The fingers 40 and 40′ can thencontinue to move forward, the ramps 46, 46′ of these fingers slidingagainst the stops 39, 39′ and therefore following the position of thesestops, keeping the jaws locked. The lowermost position is depicted inFIGS. 20 and 21, the stops 39, 39′ having reached the top of the ramps46, 46′.

[0064] When the boot is in the binding, a pull-out force exerted on theboot tends to make the jaws rotate and the force of the cams 37 and 37′on the ramps 46 and 46′ result in a component which tends to push thefingers 40 and 40′ back. To avoid inadvertent jaw opening, additionalfriction has been introduced by means of an auxiliary bar 48, 48′associated with the finger 40, 40′, and moving between two friction pads49, 50 and 49′, 50′, respectively.

[0065] Boot release is achieved by actuating the release lever 52, whichhas the effect of withdrawing the fingers 40, 40′ backward and thereforeof releasing the jaws which rise under the effect of their returnsprings 59, 59′. The increase in the friction force opposing inadvertentbinding opening could of course be achieved in a different way, byfriction, hydraulically, by a piston or by a viscoelastic material.

[0066] A simplified alternative form of the first embodiment is depicteddiagrammatically in FIGS. 22 to 24. The jaws are identical and the textwill confine itself to describing one of the jaws.

[0067] The jaw 61, in the overall shape of a sector of a circle, isarticulated about an axle 62 in a yoke 63. The axle 62 passes throughthe center of the circle corresponding to the sector of a circle. As inthe first embodiment, the jaw 61 is urged elastically in its directionof opening by a spring surrounding the axle 62. The jaw 61 is equippedwith an actuating pedal 64. On the other side of the pedal 64, the jawhas a domed cam-shaped part 65. Above the part 65, the jaw has ashoulder 66 which is slightly oblique when the jaw is in the raisedposition. The locking element here consists of the cylindricalhorizontal arm 67 of a crank-shaped part 68 (FIG. 23). The lockingelement 67 passes right through the yoke 63 through two slots 69 similarto the slots 13 and 14 in the first embodiment. When the jaw is in theraised position depicted in FIG. 22, the locking element 67 is held bythe shoulder 66 of the jaw at the top end of the slots 69. Thecrank-shaped part 68 and the corresponding part 68′ on the other jaw areconnected to the parallel arms of a rigid U-piece 70 constituting thekinematic link between the locking elements 67 and 67′, by a linkingpiece 71 which exclusively allows the cranks 68 and 68′ respectively torotate. The linking piece is articulated at two opposed points 72 and 73near the transverse part, so that the U-piece 70 with the cranks 68 and68′ tends to pivot about an axis 74 in a direction corresponding to thedownward movement of the locking elements 67 and 67′.

[0068] When the boot is put into the binding, the boot 20 drives the jaw61 via its pedal 64, as depicted in FIG. 24. During this downwardmovement, the locking element 67 leaves the shoulder 66 and moves down,guided by the slots 69, until it meets the cam 65 and locks the jaw. Thecoupling 71 allows the locking element 67 to follow the shape of theslots 69.

[0069] To release the boot from the binding, all that is required is forpressure to be exerted on the transverse part of the U-piece 70. Thetravel of the piece 70 is limited by a stop 75, so as to avoid twistingthe cranks 68 and 68′.

[0070] As in the first embodiment, the slots 69 could be straight andvertical instead of being curved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides,comprising: a base plate defining a horizontal axis; a jaw attached tothe base plate, the jaw being pivotable about the horizontal axis of thebase plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a pluralityof closed, locked positions; a driving arm, secured to the jaw, that isdriven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding to drivethe jaw toward a closed, locked position; a locking element thatinteracts with the driving arm to lock the jaw in a closed, lockedposition after the boot has been introduced into the binding, thelocking element being configured such that the jaw may be locked in anyof the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various bootlevels relative to the base plate; and a return spring that biases thejaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position.
 2. The step-inbinding of claim 1, wherein at least one of the driving arm and thelocking element includes a cutout, and at least one of the driving armand the locking element interacts with the cutout to lock the jaw. 3.The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises asubstantially finger-shaped member.
 4. The step-in binding of claim 3,wherein the substantially finger-shaped member includes a ramped sideinteracting with a cutout on the driving arm to provide for theplurality of closed, locked positions.
 5. The step-in binding of claim1, wherein the locking element is urged in a locking direction by anelastic means.
 6. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein movement ofthe locking element is guided.
 7. The step-in binding of claim 1,further comprising a retaining element attached to the base plateopposite the jaw.
 8. The step-in binding of claim 7, wherein the jaw isa first jaw and the retaining element comprises a second jaw that issubstantially identical to the first jaw.
 9. The step-in binding ofclaim 8, wherein the locking element moves relative to the base plate.10. The step-in binding of claim 9, further comprising: a kinematic linkthat links the first jaw to the second jaw so that the first jaw and thesecond jaw can be pivoted simultaneously.
 11. The step-in binding ofclaim 10, wherein the kinematic link is between the locking elementassociated with the first jaw and a locking element that is associatedwith the second jaw.
 12. The step-in binding of claim 11, wherein thekinematic link is a bar.
 13. The step-in binding of claim 12, wherein,when the first jaw and the second jaw are in closed, locked positions,the first jaw and the second jaw have differential play, and, when thefirst jaw and the second jaw are in open, unlocked positions, the firstjaw and the second jaw do not have differential play.
 14. The step-inbinding of claim 1, wherein the locking element includes a shaped partthat interacts with the driving arm.
 15. The step-in binding of claim 1,wherein the driving arm has a lateral face forming a stop for thelocking element and a cutout forming a circumferential stop, and thelocking element comprises a locking finger that moves at leastapproximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the jaw and is in ashape of a wedge, the locking finger pressing against thecircumferential stop as it enters the cutout after the jaw has rotated apredetermined amount.
 16. The step-in binding of claim 15, furthercomprising a retaining element attached to the base plate opposite thejaw.
 17. The step-in binding of claim 16, wherein the jaw is a first jawand the retaining element comprises a second jaw that is substantiallyidentical to the first jaw.
 18. The step-in binding of claim 17, furthercomprising: a kinematic link that links the locking finger associatedwith the first jaw with a locking finger associated with the second jaw.19. The step-in binding of claim 18, wherein the kinematic link is a barthat is biased towards the first jaw and the second jaw.
 20. The step-inbinding of claim 19, wherein at least one of the locking fingerassociated with the first jaw and the locking finger associated with thesecond jaw is connected to the bar with play.
 21. A method of binding aboot by holding the boot by its sides, the method comprising:introducing a boot into the binding to thereby drive a driving arm thatis secured to a jaw; pivoting the jaw about a horizontal axis of a baseplate from at least one open, unlocked position to one of a plurality ofclosed, locked positions; interacting a locking element with the drivingarm to lock the jaw in any of the closed, locked positions toaccommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising retaining the boot between the atleast one jaw and a second jaw.
 23. The method of claim 22, furthercomprising: opening the at least one jaw and the second jawsimultaneously.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of thedriving arm and the locking element includes a cutout, at least one ofthe driving arm and the locking element interacts with the cutout tolock the jaw, the locking element comprises a substantiallyfinger-shaped member, and the method further comprises: rotating the atleast one jaw such that the substantially finger-shaped member moves atleast approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the jaw, and thesubstantially finger-shaped member interacts with a cutout on thedriving arm to provide for the plurality of closed, locked positions.25. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising: a baseplate defining a horizontal axis; means for pivoting a jaw about thehorizontal axis of the base plate between at least one open, unlockedposition and a plurality of closed, locked positions; means for drivingthe jaw toward a closed, locked position, the means for driving beingsecured to the jaw; means for locking that interacts with the means fordriving to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot hasbeen introduced into the binding, the means for locking being configuredsuch that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed,locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the baseplate; and means for biasing the jaw towards the at least one open,unlocked position.
 26. The step-in binding of claim 25, wherein themeans for driving is a driving arm.
 27. The step-in binding of claim 26,wherein the means for locking is a locking element.
 28. The step-inbinding of claim 27, wherein the locking element comprises asubstantially finger-shaped member.
 29. The step-in binding of claim 28,wherein the substantially finger-shaped member includes a ramped sideinteracting with a cutout on the driving arm to provide for theplurality of closed, locked positions.
 30. A step-in binding that holdsa boot by its sides, comprising: a base plate defining a horizontalaxis; a jaw attached to the base plate, the jaw being pivotable aboutthe horizontal axis of the base plate between at least one open,unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; a lockingelement that locks the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boothas been introduced into the binding, the locking element beingconfigured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality ofclosed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative tothe base plate; a stop, fixed relative to the base plate, against whichthe locking element rests when the jaw is in the at least one open,unlocked position; and a return spring that biases the jaw towards theat least one open, unlocked position.
 31. The step-in binding of claim30, further comprising a mount that mounts the jaw to the base plate.32. The step-in binding of claim 30, further comprising a mount, thestop being disposed on the mount.
 33. The step-in binding of claim 32,wherein the mount attaches the jaw to the base plate.
 34. A method ofbinding a boot by holding the boot by its sides, the method comprising:introducing a boot into the binding to thereby drive a driving arm thatis secured to a jaw; pivoting the jaw about a horizontal axis of a baseplate from at least one open, unlocked position to at least one of aplurality of closed, locked positions; engaging a locking element tolock the jaw in any of the closed, locked positions to accommodatevarious boot levels relative to the base plate; and resting the lockingelement against a stop, fixed relative to the base plate, when the jawis in the at least one open, unlocked position.
 35. A step-in bindingthat holds a boot by its sides, comprising: a base plate defining ahorizontal axis; means for pivoting a jaw about the horizontal axis ofthe base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and aplurality of closed, locked positions; means for locking the jaw in aclosed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into thebinding, the means for locking being configured such that the jaw may belocked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions toaccommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; means forresting the locking element when the jaw is in the at least one open,unlocked position, said means for resting being fixed relative to thebase plate; and means for biasing the jaw towards the at least one open,unlocked position.
 36. The step-in binding of claim 35, furthercomprising means for mounting the jaw to the base-plate.
 37. The step-inbinding of claim 35, further comprising a mount, the means for restingbeing disposed on the mount.
 38. The step-in binding of claim 37,wherein the mount attaches the jaw to the base plate.
 39. The step-inbinding of claim 38, wherein the means for resting is a stop disposed onthe mount.